Gene Nicholson to Step Down as Head Men's Golf Coach

Friday, May 31, 2013

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College veteran coach Gene Nicholson has decided to step down as the head men's golf coach effective May 31. The search for his replacement for this part-time position will begin immediately.

Nicholson finished his 13th season at the helm of the Titan men's golf program in 2013 and was his 44th year overall as a coach at Westminster.

"This represents the end of an era in Westminster athletics," stated Westminster's Athletic Director Jim Dafler. "Although Gene retired from full-time teaching and coaching in 2007, he remained an active and dedicated staff member in the part-time position of men's golf coach."

A three-time Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach of the Year, Nicholson guided the Titans to three-straight league titles from 2002 through 2005. The 2004-05 season was perhaps Nicholson's best year as the Titan golf coach as Westminster captured five invitational titles, its third-straight PAC championship, and its first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships.

Nicholson, a member of the Titan Sports Hall of Fame, is best known as the former head football coach at Westminster from 1991-98. During that time, he led the Titan football program to a record of 64-25-2 (.714) in eight seasons, including posting an undefeated regular season in 1992 and capturing the school's sixth NAIA Division II national championship in 1994. Nicholson served as an assistant coach on all five of the other NAIA national championship Westminster football teams and overall coached in nine NAIA national championship games.

In addition to football and men's golf, Nicholson also served as the head coach for swimming, tennis, wrestling, and track and field during his tenure at Westminster.

"In addition to his coaching duties, Gene was always willing to pitch in wherever needed and many of us on the current staff have benefitted from his counsel and years of experience," Dafler added. "All told he gave 44 years of service to Westminster and Titan athletics, and he will be missed."

About Westminster College...Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster is a top-tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 377 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.